Salinas oversight panels hear Measure E and G unaudited financial reports as residents press for more transparency

Assistant Finance Director Abe Pedrosa presented unaudited third-quarter financial reports for Measure E and Measure G at the City of Salinas joint oversight meeting on April 16, 2026. Pedrosa said Measure E is projected to generate $7,200,000 in sales tax revenue for fiscal year 2025–26 and that Measure E-funded programs and positions support public safety, libraries and recreation.

"Measure E is projected to generate 7,200,000 in sales tax revenue for fiscal year 25, 26," Pedrosa said during his presentation and noted the figures are unaudited. He told the committee the report shows 63% of transaction and use tax revenue has been received for the period July–January, and that Measure E currently funds 90.5 positions across multiple departments.

Why it matters: Both measures provide recurring sales-tax revenue that the city uses to fund personnel, capital projects and services. Committee members and residents said clearer reporting would help the public assess whether the city is spending Measure funds as intended and whether staffing funded by the measures is actually in place.

Residents at the meeting voiced repeated concerns about transparency and unfilled positions. A constituent speaking for the Segar de Monteria community told the committee, "You guys need to really come clean and and be responsible for what you do," and urged officials to explain where Measure revenues are going.

Committee members pressed staff for line-item specifics. During the Measure E presentation Pedrosa identified several budget line items: the total Measure E revenue budget (including investment earnings) was shown as $18,500,000, and staff reported measures of spending as of March 31, with departmental spending—before non-departmental transfers—about 65% of budget. Pedrosa also cited specific amounts when asked: El Gabilan library debt service was listed as $1,500,000 for FY25–26; general liability insurance as $491,000; property insurance as $214,004.91; fleet maintenance $176,000; and animal services $275,000.

Committee members and staff also discussed salary savings and vacancies. The report attributes part of the underspend to salary savings from vacancies among the 90.5 Measure E-funded positions. HR Director Marina Gallegos said recruitments are underway in several departments, that many vacancies are in the library and community services areas, and that the city is using eligibility lists and panel interviews to fill openings.

Police training and public-safety staffing drew focused attention. A committee member commended recent police data and asked whether Measure E funds support leadership and responsibility training for officers. Police Chief Acosta confirmed that the department uses Measure E funds for training, citing local leadership courses, command college, internal affairs investigation training and critical-incident (CIT) training and said the department was "gonna be close to 100% compliance for every police officer learning CIT training." (Chief Acosta spoke in response to that committee question.)

Measure G, presented separately by Pedrosa, was projected to generate $34,500,000 in sales tax revenue for FY25–26; the report shows a total Measure G revenue budget of $36,100,000 and that Measure G funds 106.5 positions across public works, police, recreation, fire and other departments. Pedrosa said Measure G represents about 38% of the city's sales-and-use tax revenue and 19% of total general fund revenue and warned that, if not renewed by its 2030 sunset date, the city could face an annual revenue gap of roughly $40.6 million.

Several members of the oversight committees criticized the decision to combine Measure E and Measure G oversight meetings, calling the joint session confusing for the public and recommending the committees return to separate meetings to avoid conflating the two measures.

On procedural business, the committee moved and approved the minutes from the Jan. 15, 2026 meeting by voice vote. Staff emphasized that the numbers presented were unaudited and that the printed financial reports attached to the agenda include further department-by-department detail.

The joint oversight meeting adjourned at 4:52 p.m.